LACHARME is dead. No other announcement could cause such universal regret throughout the
Rose world, for in him we have lost the greatest of all our Rose raisers.
Wherever Roses are cultivated the name of Lacharme has for years been familiar
as a household word, and no name has ever been more eagerly looked for in the
lists of novelties annually distributed. "What is Lacharme sending out
this season?" has year after year been the first question as soon as the
subject of new Roses has been mooted, and anything coming from the famous
grower was always certain to obtain immediate attention and trial. For Lacharme
not only has sent out more great Roses than any other raiser, but also sent out
hardly any that have not proved thoroughly well worth growing. Herein no doubt
lay the reason of the greatness of his reputation compared with that of other
raisers, namely, that while they, though sending out some first-rate Roses,
have accompanied them by many indifferent ones, he has sont out few that have
not been in their day among the best of their class, and therefore his name
attached to a seedling became recognised as a guarantee of excellence.

If
anyone were to be confined to growing no other Roses than those of Lacharme's
raising it would be a comparatively slight hardship in consideration of the
fact that his seedlings comprise first-rate varieties of so many types, and, in
fact, his productions may be said almost to epitomise modern Rose culture. For though
his greatest triumphs have been among the Hybrid Perpetuals, yet he will also
be remembered as the raiser of the first and best Hybrid Noisette, the first
climbing Hybrid Polyantha, as well as of Teas, Hybrid Teas, Bourbons, and
Chinas, and therefore a collection of his seedlings alone would afford abundant
variety, while being of the best quality.

That
a man should have been able for close upon half a century to occupy the most
prominent position in the field of Rose-raising, in which the workers of late
years have been so numerous, indicates the strength of purpose, skill, and
determination to make the last achievement only a point from which to start
fresh triumphs that characterise a great worker and entitle Lacharme to the
respect as well as to the endless gratitude of all rosarians.

As
soon as he had obtained a nursery, Lacharme lost no time in setting about
raising seedlings. He took over M. Plantier's Rose establishment in 1840, and as
early as 1843, only six years after the distribution of Madame Laffay
(generally accounted the first of the Hybrid Perpetuals), he sent out Ernestine
de Barente, a Hybrid Perpetual which enjoyed a great reputation in its day.
This was followed the next year by Louise Peyronny, a beautiful light Rose,
still popular and worth growing, and one season later by Mélanie Willermoz,
more commonly called Madame Willermoz, a fine white Tea which, though giving
considerable evidence of Bourbon blood, continues in extensive cultivation.

During
the next ten or twelve years some score of varieties were distributed, of which
La Séduisante (1850), Colonel de Rougemont(1854), and Paeonia (1855) are now
the best known, and in 1858 the still beautiful and very distinct Anna de
Diesbach appeared, accompanied by Virginale, also occasionally met with even
yet.

In 1859 an epoch was marked in Rose-growing by the
introduction of Victor Verdier, a Rose which, either by itself or by means of
its descendants, of which there is now quite a large family, has attained
universal celebrity. The origin of this Rose has been a theme of frequent
discussion. In it some have seen the first of the modern Hybrid Teas, and
certainly the habit, foliage, and smooth wood appear to indicate a strong Tea,
or perhaps Bourbon influence. It may well have caused excitement when it first
appeared, for although in some districts the plant is not so vigorous as might
be desired, its flower is still unsurpassed, and at its best holds its own
among the most recent varieties. Through Victor Verdier we are indirectly indebted
to Lacharme for its numerous progeny, such as Etienne Levet, Countess of
Oxford, Mrs. Baker, Marie Finger, &c, all of which follow it closely in
habit and form, and are among our most valuable Roses. Madame Gustave Bonnett
was sent out in 1860; and then, in 1861, appeared a Rose which alone was
sufficient to make its raiser famous for all time —namely, Charles Lefebvre.
This glorious Rose has probably given more pleasure to Rose growers than any
other of its class. In it were revealed the possibilities of the Hybrid
Perpetual, for in the combination of size, form, and colour it is not yet
superseded; and though it made its appearance among a perfect galaxy of beauty
that rendered the year 1861 for ever memorable in Rose annals, it is still, as
it always has been, the brightest star of all that brilliant constellation.
Unlike Victor Verdier, Charles Lefebvre, although numberless seedlings have
been raised from it, has yielded no varieties so good as or better than itself,
so that there is no Charles Lefebvre race, but the great Rose stands alone. It
may be mentioned in passing that the dates of the introduction of both the
last-named Roses are incorrectly given by Mr. H. B. Ellwanger in his valuable
book, "The Rose." The year 1862 witnessed the production of further
useful Roses in Baron Adolphe de Rothschild, Lady Emily Peel, Alfred de
Rougemont, and also Madame Alfred de Rougemont, another valuable Hybrid
Noisette following the first of the type, Louise d'Arzens, of the previous
season; and among the additions of the next two years Lacharme gave the world
another gorgeous Rose, still unsurpassed, in Xavier Olibo (1864), a Rose which
is not over vigorous, but which is very free-blooming, and of which it is a
greater pleasure to obtain a perfect flower than of almost any other variety.
Alfred Colomb, still one of the best three reds, made 1865 notable, and quite
eclipsed all its companion novelties, in spite of these including Souvenir de
Dr. Jamain, a unique colour, but hardly large enough to satisfy the exhibitor,
and hence, unfortunately, far too seldom seen; 1866 brought Thorin, 1867 the
best of the Hybrid Noisettes, the evergreen (in every sense) Boule de Neige, as
well as Coquette des Alpes, with Pitord, the best purple, while in 1869 came
another celebrity in Louis Van Houtte, a grand dark Rose, whose maroon-crimson
colour has yet to be matched; 1871 saw Coquette des Blanches added to the
Hybrid N oisettes (Perle des Blanches coming the following year), and Lyonnais
and President Thiers to the Victor Verdier race, which does not seem to
flourish over here as it does in the neighbourhood of Lyons. In Madame Lacharme
a Hybrid Tea appeared in 1872 among others, followed the next season by the
even finer one, Captain Christy, said to have originated from Victor Verdier
and a Tea; in 1874 the reliable Hippolyte Jamain and the fine-weather Comtessc
de Serenye were the chief additions, while those of 1875 included the splendid
dark Rose Jean Soupert, unaccountably seldom seen, and Henry Bennett, a dark
Hybrid Perpetual with a beautiful petal, but not full enough. Lacharme's best
Tea, Madame Lambard, came to us the following season, and has proved the most
valuable addition to the rose colours; 1879 brought Catherine Soupert and the
very useful autumnal Hybrid Tea Jules Finger, in the way of Captain Christy;
while in 1881 came Helen Paul and the most beautiful white Hybrid Perpetual
Violette Bouyer, and in 1883 another first-rate Rose in Alphonse Soupert. Clara
Cochet, the new Hybrid Perpetual of 1885, has not been much seen yet, but the
climbing Hybrid Polyantha Max Singer of the same date is a promising red
climber, and much is hoped of the new Tea only just announced, Henriette de
Beauvau.

Thus
it will be seen what a giant's work that of Lacharme has been in raising Roses,
and though he will doubtless have many successors, they will need to possess
great ability, great judgment, and to achieve great success in order to excel
or even to attain to equal rank with the great benefactor of Rose lovers all
over the world who has just passed away.